Black and gold is a colour scheme that works on all manner of cars, from Lotus F1 racers to Pontiac Trans Ams, and BMW M2s to GR Yarises. Here we have another that suits it rather well, the Mini Remastered Marshall Edition. Which is good, because there's no other colour scheme available...
Built by David Brown Automotive, the Marshall Edition celebrates Britain's best known amp company, which celebrates 60 years this year. So that's not just and black and gold paint, it's Marshall Black and Marshall Gold. And while mechanically identical to the Mini Remastered launched a few years ago, with 1330cc A Series and five-speed manual, there's plenty to mark this out as something a bit different. And not just the paint with its "sultry, rock and roll air".
So, the front grille is meant to look like Marshall equipment, the badges are bespoke to this edition, the pedals have 'skip', 'pause' and 'play' on them, the door card fabric is meant to resemble amp fabric and the seat leather is "of the highest quality" - in black and gold, too. There's a build plaque to identify which of the 60 cars you own.
All of which is nice, if not exactly remarkable. But then there's the Marshall Edition's piece de resistance, which is the sound system. As well as new tweeters on the dash, more speakers and "upgraded equipment fitted to the rear parcel shelf" - which may or may not be a set of 6x9s - the entire Mini boot has now been dedicated to Marshall. A DSL1 Combo amplifier slides out and even comes with its own power supply; there's an Emberton Bluetooth speaker in there as well, presumably if your passenger doesn't like your jamming. Even the glovebox hasn't escaped Marshalling, with an induction charging point for the Motif A.N.C wireless headphones. Ask really nicely and you might get a pair thrown in...
"We are hugely influenced by music and to partner with such an iconic brand to create this very special Mini Remastered, and to help them celebrate 60 years in business, a momentous milestone, was an opportunity we didn't want to pass on. It seems fitting to unite the classic Mini and Marshall - two British icons - and in doing so to inject the Mini, a favourite among music stars through the ages, with serious rock and roll appeal. We're delighted with the resulting car", said David Brown.
The Marshall Edition is on sale now, with pricing for the 60 cars on application. Buyers can have left- or right-hand drive, and a donation from each sale will be made to the Music Venue Trust. Best get a good playlist ready for the first drive...
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